Setting Up the First User
Rob Kirkland
When you install Domino, after the first server is in place, you have to install the first user. To do that, and to complete the tasks of installing and configuring the Domino server, you have to install Domino Administrator. Where do you install it? This tip, from Domino System Administration, by Rob Kirkland, published by New Riders, tells all.
You have three options for installing Domino Administrator.
- You can install it on the same machine as Domino, and in the same program and data folders as Domino.
- You can install it on the same machine as Domino, but in a different data folder from Domino. (The executables can reside in the same or a different program folder, whichever you want.)
- You can install it on a different machine altogether.
Lotus recommends that you choose the third alternative or, if you must install client software on the server, the second alternative. I agree with Lotus's recommendations. There are several good reasons not to install any client on the server machine.
First, running any foreground program on the server puts a big burden on the processor. This in turn significantly impairs the server's ability to meet the demands of remote clients.
Second, permitting local access to a server compromises Domino's security. The local user may be able to manipulate data in otherwise unauthorized ways. Also, making changes while logged in using the server's ID obliterates Domino's audit trail.
Finally, it's simply unnecessary to install Domino Administrator directly on the server. Vereran R4 Notes/Domino administrators are accustomed too running Notes locally at the server to administer it. Many administrators do it all the time and are sort of addicted to it, and are probably very uncomfortable at the thought of not having that ability in R5. But in R5 it is no longer harder to do most things remotely.
In fact, about the only reason I can think of to administer an R5 server locally (other than to start it up) is if you get locked out of a database ACL. Local access would give you Manager access to the ACL (If Domino/Notes aren't enforcing an inconsistent ACL). But to access an ACL you need Notes, not Domino Administrator; and Notes is installed (on Windows/Intel servers) along with Domino in the form of nlnotes.exe.
To learn more about Domino System Administration, or to buy this book, click here.
